Washington, D.C. — The U.S. Supreme Court ruled today that any child sentenced to mandatory life in prison without parole is eligible for review. Further, the Court said that any child serving life without parole – except for the rare cases where it has been found that the child’s crimes reflect “permanent incorrigibility” – violates the eighth amendment ban on cruel and unusual punishment.

Today’s decision in Montgomery v. Louisiana provides review opportunities for thousands of youth sentenced to die in prison before the Court ruled in Miller v. Alabama nearly four years ago that it is a violation of the 8th Amendment prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment to impose an automatic sentence of life-without-parole upon a person who was younger than 18 at the time of a crime.

“People told as children that they would leave prison only in a pine box now will have an opportunity to demonstrate that they have changed and are ready to re-enter society,” said Jody Kent Lavy, director and national coordinator at the Campaign for the Fair Sentencing of Youth. “All children possess the capacity for change, and this ruling affirms that when and where a youth committed a crime should not determine whether he or she should die in prison.”

The case was brought to the Court on behalf of Henry Montgomery. He is serving a mandatory life-without-parole sentence for a crime he committed at age 17. Mr. Montgomery is now 69 years old and has spent more than 50 years in prison.

Before today’s decision, state courts were divided on this issue. As a result of today’s decision, well over 1,000 people sentenced as children to die in prison will be eligible for review.

“The Miller ruling was rooted in developmental research documenting that children are what the Court refers to as ‘constitutionally different’ from adults and this ruling was a logical extension of that,” said Heather Renwick, legal director at the Campaign. “It makes logical sense that the Court apply Miller to all children, regardless of when they were sentenced.”

Since the Miller decision, the number of states that ban life without parole sentences for children has tripled. At the same time, elected officials, opinion leaders and the editorial pages of major newspapers have called for an end to life-without-parole sentences for children, and President Obama has said that children are different from adults and must be held accountable in ways that account for that difference. And weeks after receiving more than 500 letters from people sentenced as children to die in prison, Pope Francis called for an end to all life sentences.

“National consensus is moving toward banning these extreme sentences for children, which the United States alone imposes,” said Kent Lavy. “As legislatures throughout the country continue to consider this issue, they will be on the right side of history as they continue to ban life-without-parole for youth and ensure that all children are held accountable in ways that reflect their age, development and experiences with trauma.”

Formerly incarcerated youth: Supreme Court right that kids are different

I am a committed father who is working to keep kids out of trouble and our streets free of violent crime.

I also faced a possible sentence of life without the possibility of parole or the death penalty when I was only 16. I was convicted of third degree homicide instead of first degree murder and received a lesser sentence and served 8 ½ years behind bars. Since I was released in 1997, I have worked with hundreds of young men, trying to prevent them from entering the criminal justice system. Read more from formerly incarcerated youth...Edwin Desamour, Philadelphia

I was convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to 25 years in prison when I was 13 years old.

I had already spent time in the juvenile detention center on seven different occasions. Yet at such a young age, I didn't fully understand the ramifications of what had occurred; nor did I understand how so many lives -- including my own -- would be devastated because of my actions. I did not think the victim would die and I was not the actual killer, so I never imagined that I would face a long prison term. Only when I was transferred to adult court and spoke to my defense lawyer did I understand that I would likely spend decades in prison. I eventually plead guilty in order to avoid the 40-year sentence the state sought. Read more from formerly incarcerated youth...Xavier McElrath-Bey, Chicago

Mother tells her story of addressing the mental health issues that led to her son’s sentence

When my son was born, I knew very little about how kids typically behave. I was only 19 and he was my first child. His sister was not born for another 9 years.

During his formative years he was smart, quiet and obedient. He was in classes for gifted kids and showed talent in design and engineering at a very young age. He crafted elaborate building plans for spaceships, which at the time were very futuristic. I had no idea that he also suffered from a serious mental illness. Read more from families of incarcerated youth...Cat Lambert, Colorado

The mother of a 3-year-old homicide victim supports holding young people accountable for their crimes, but life-without-parole sentences for juveniles is not the answer.

Nearly 17 years ago, my three-year-old son, Casson Xavier “Biscuit” Evans, was killed in a drive-by shooting. I could not have imagined that I would someday want to see the shooter released from prison or that I would become an advocate for ending the practice of sentencing children to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Read more from families of victims...Sharletta Evans, Colorado

Bishops' Committee Joins Call To End Life Sentences Without Parole For Children

A committee of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has endorsed the principles of a national campaign to end the practice of sentencing people under the age of 18 to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

"While there is no question that violent and dangerous youth need to be confined for their safety and that of society, the USCCB does not support provisions that treat children as though they are equal to adults in their moral and cognitive development," said Bishop Stephen E. Blaire of Stockton, California, chairman of the committee. "Life sentences without parole eliminate the opportunity for rehabilitation or second chances." Read more from organizational partners...United States Conference of Catholic Bishops,

We did some dumb things as teenagers that might have caused a lot of harm. You probably did, too. Fortunately, we didn’t hurt anyone too badly, but we cringe now at how clueless we were about the possible consequences of what we did.

Teenagers often don’t make very good decisions. Our laws take this into account in many ways: We don’t let young people drink until they are 21, and they can’t sign contracts, vote or serve on juries until they are 18. But there is one area in which we ignore teens’ youth and impulsiveness: our criminal laws. Read more from opinion leaders...Newt Gingrich and Pat Nolan,

Letter from Individual Currently Serving to the Campaign for the Fair Sentencing of Youth

"And it is crystal clear to me if I got out today there is not an ounce of fiber in me that wants to be involved in anything criminal. There is so much more available in life, only a moron would want to live life like this. I believe change can be made, and a big reason for that is 'cause I see it in myself." Read more from people currently serving...Individual Serving Life Without Parole for a Crime Committed as a Youth,